A pain in her side, in his foot, and in his heart

Her sudden laugh surprised Chance. He even looked left and right to check if there was someone else near them. 

'Sherin laughed??' he could not believe what he just heard. The ever so blank or serious Sherin actually laughed at him.

Even Alec, someone who shows no emotion, has never been heard giggling like she did. It was not weird or anything of that sort. For Chance, who heard it for the first time, it sounded divine. No words to describe her laugh, if only others could hear it with their own ears, they would likely think the same.

Except for Niro, of course. He would definitely say that Sherin is creepy.

Sherin stopped laughing and turned to Chance with a smile. "Your Highness, surely you remember that you just got kidnapped. Any moment there could be the end of your life." she stated.

"Yet you are more worried for me than your own life, how adorable."

Chance blushed because of her words, but there he felt as if he had gotten closer to the aide that he was scared to approach.

His gaze dropped down to her wounded side. He knows that she said it was her duty, but he could not stop blaming himself. Good thing Sherin was wearing a thick vest underneath, or it could have been worse.

"As you can see, I am still alive." Sherin said when she noticed his worried stare. "We are the handpicked aides for the royal family, what a disgrace it could have been to die with a mere stab wound."

"Do not worry much, Your Highness." 

Chance nodded and said nothing.

Silence once again between the two of them. It was really awkward for Chance, especially since he is not good at choosing a topic and the right words. An introvert and an expressionless knight. Both quiet and not good at conversing. 

"We will be on our way soon. I could already feel that His Highness is in a distress because of your disappearance." Sherin stated.

Chance's heart skipped a beat upon hearing about Caliber. How many days has it been since he last saw his face? "He knows that I disappeared?" he asked. He is happy that Caliber knows, but felt a bit disappointed that he did not come for him.

"Of course he does. Why else would I come to save you than help Alec protect my prince, His Highness, Louis?" she answered. It was as if Sherin could read his mind, "He wanted to come to you personally, but he needs to finish his work first."

"If only you could see His Highness's expression when he heard that someone attempted to poison the two of you. He was fuming mad and wanted to murder." she teased.

Chance looked away, nervous for Sherin to see his face. 'Why are you blushing, Chance!' he scolded himself. How weird he felt. Why would he be happy to find out that Caliber is angry? Who in the right mind would feel happy for being angry?

'You have fallen hard, Chance, not even the Goddess can save you now.' 

'What do you mean fallen hard? What nonsense are you saying!' 

He covered his face with his two hands and he felt his face heating up, 'Have I gone crazy? To go as far as to talk to myself...' 

If he was with someone that has the ability to read one's mind, he would make a fool of himself. Such embarrassing thoughts.

"If His Highness did not have any tasks, he would have come for you in the speed of light." Sherin said.

He was on the verge of smiling once again, but a spirit of sadness passed by him, pulling the corners of his lips down in a frown. "That is impossible." he said in return.

"And why would it be impossible?"

"He will not go near me."

"Why not?"

He put his gaze down and fiddled with his fingers to distract himself from feeling sad as he recalled what happened that night. "I-I pushed him away..."

Sadness was evident in his voice. Only a whisper, as he could not say it in a loud way because he is afraid that his voice would crack. Sherin wanted to comfort the crown prince. Her sight makes it look like Chance was a small puppy who needed a pat.

She just stared at him. A mere aide cannot possibly touch a crown prince, moreover, a soon to be king of another kingdom. But she was curious, "Why would you push your lover away?"

'Lover, huh.' he thought. A bitter thought entered his mind. He is not Caliber's lover. Even if he wanted to be his lover...

There is a woman in Caliber's heart already, and lovers and stuff that happened that day were just a play to tease his heart. Or so he thought.

"Does it not bother you? That I am the 'lover' of your kingdom's soon-to-be crown prince?" he asked.

She gave out a snort, finding his question funny. 'So you were worried about that?' she thought.

She shook her head as an answer to his question. "I do not care about your relationship with him. The only thing I care about...is my duty to serve as His Highness's sword."

Her answer was to be expected, for someone as loyal as she is.

"Prince Charles." she called out with emphasis and made Chance turn to look at her. "Yes?"

"Please do not hurt His Highness's heart," she said, almost in a pleading tone.

"And please do not hurt your own."